IPL depletes West Indies batting against Australia

Published: Monday, March 17, 2008, 11:05 [IST]

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Barbados, Mar 17 (UNI) The West Indies team might have to face the mighty Australians in the home series without three of its most experienced batsmen who, at that time, will fulfil the IPL commitments at the cost of their national duty.

Australia could well have to face a second string Caribbean side for the first two Tests as Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan have confirmed that they will complete the 44-day tournament in India.

However, West Indies Cricket chief Donald Peters said the board will release the players to play in the IPL and added that the players have every right to earn hefty amounts which their national board has been unable to provide.

''We are aware that we may lose the players for the first two Tests against Australia, and I asked the selectors to be cognisant of this and to try to put batsmen in the side that could replace Gayle, Chanderpaul, and Sarwan,'' Peters said.

Peters added that there was no point in stopping the players and even if the trio is asked to stay back, they would go any way.

''I have the NOCs for the players, and I have to release the players, but I am not going to not release the players because they would go anyway,'' said Peters, who is pushing for an annual IPL window in the international calendar.

''Given the amount of money involved, it certainly destabilises the infrastructure of cricket. It's not fair to the players, and it's not fair to the national teams,'' he added.

He was disappointed that such a situation has come up and added that the small cricketing nations will be the ones which will find it hard to tackle.

''West Indies and New Zealand are two of the smallest cricket nations, and it will hurt us the most if our best players leave to play in the IPL because it's hard to replace three of your best players. But we have to find a solution,'' Peters said.

On the other hand, Cricket Australia has already warned its players not to give preference to domestic and unsanctioned tournaments over their national duties.